Humble Leaders Make the Best Leaders

In an increasingly connected global market, development and growth issues in business are becoming more complex. In this type of environment that is moving and changing at such a steadily accelerated pace, it is unlikely that one person will have all the answers to all the problems presented.

While having a strong sense of leadership and direction is important to ensuring a team and organisation traverse along the right track, a sense of humility in any leadership role is also essential to developing the best leaders into the most responsive and encouraging ones.

There are many reasons to add a dose of humility to your own leadership style and the style of those around you. Among other things, it is important to acknowledge how humility in leadership can increase productivity, responsibility and teamwork. Here are a few of the big reasons why humble leaders make the best leaders.

Humble leaders are constantly learning

Without humility, we are unable to learn new skills. For a leader, it requires an acknowledgement that they do not have all the skills and know-how to do each task alone. By opening up to team members and learning from others and admitting mistakes, humble leaders can demonstrate how constant learning should be the focus of all employees no matter where they sit on the corporate ladder.

Humble leaders empower followers to learn and develop

Team members who perceive more altruistic behaviour from their managers are more likely to become more innovative and creative in their own roles. A humble leader will encourage their team members to explore new skills and will take the time to teach those willing to learn what they have learnt as a leader.

Humble leaders are better listeners

Being a humble leader means taking the time to listen to what team members are saying. Leaders that can actively listen to their team members will be able to really hear what their employees are telling them. With the right information at their hands, leaders can move ahead and make informed decisions for themselves and for their team.

Humble leaders engage in dialogues

A humble leader will enter into dialogues with team members to ascertain different points of view. A leader who is not humble will often be too focused on swaying or ‘selling’ their point of view to an audience instead of suspending their own agendas to hear all valid arguments and perspectives.

Humble leaders are selfless, but not weak

A selfless or altruistic leader should not be viewed as a weak one. It can take a lot of courage to demonstrate humility to team members who may be used to a more stringent form of management. In adopting a sense of humility to your management style you will find your team members will be more inclined to be engaged and dedicated to sharing than they previously were.

Humble leaders embrace uncertainty and the future

Ambiguity and uncertainty are a part of life, both business and personal. A humble leader will boldly admit when they don’t have all the answers. However, they will also embrace the future for what it is, a collection of possibilities yet to be accomplished.

Curious to find out if you are a good manager? You can find out more about your management style with LMA’s DIY leadership analysis.